Effectiveness of a Peer Support Media Model on Obesity and Sarcopenia Awareness in At-Risk College Students

NCT06964880 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CMUH113-REC1-164
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Sarcopenic obesity refers to a condition characterized by high body fat percentage and insufficient muscle mass, posing significant risks to physical and mental health. This issue is not limited to the elderly; it is increasingly common among younger populations as well. According to the National Nutrition and Health Survey conducted between 2017 and 2020, high rates of eating out due to study and work lifestyles in Taiwan result in limited access to nutritious food. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's statistics from 2021 show that only 33.9% of the population engages in regular exercise. Sarcopenic obesity is associated with physical activity and nutritional intake. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People has urged the public to maintain a balanced diet and establish exercise habits early to reduce the risk of sarcopenic obesity. Younger individuals are more likely to increase muscle mass with interventions in exercise and nutrition compared to older adults, making college students a key demographic for fostering healthy behaviors. Therefore, it is essential to address how to enhance their health awareness and behaviors. Based on this, the present study aims to explore the impact of a multimedia intervention combined with a peer support model on the awareness and behaviors of college students at risk of being overweight. The research methodology involves a randomized controlled trial, participants from a medical university in central Taiwan. Body composition will be measured first, and eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group, followed by a 12-week intervention and subsequent post-test. The study will analyze the effects of multimedia combined with peer support on the awareness and behaviors of at-risk college students, as well as assess muscle mass changes through grip strength measurements. The goal is to enhance college students' awareness of their health behaviors, improve their dietary and exercise habits, fill knowledge and application gaps, and provide an evidence-based foundation for future strategies to promote healthy behaviors among young populations.

Conditions

Exercise Adherence

Keywords

Sarcopenic obesity; body fat percentage; muscle mass; exercise; audiovisual media

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Body Mass Index (BMI)

  BMI will be calculated as weight (kg) divided by height in meters squared (m²). Measurements will be taken using the InBody 270S body composition analyzer. Unit of Measure: kg/m²

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

• Body Fat Percentage Body fat mass

  Body Fat Percentage Body fat mass will be assessed using the InBody 270S. Percentage is calculated as (fat mass ÷ body weight (kg)) × 100%. Unit of Measure: %

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

• Physical Activity Level (IPAQ-SF)

  Assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Results expressed in MET-minutes/week. Higher scores indicate greater physical activity and better outcome. Unit of Measure: MET-min/week

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

• Hand Grip Strength

  Hand grip strength measured using Jamar handheld dynamometer. Each hand is tested three times; average grip strength is recorded. Higher values indicate better strength. Unit of Measure: kg

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Online Video Exercise + Peer Support

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the intervention group will engage in a 12-week program that includes twice-weekly structured exercise sessions guided by video content delivered via an online media platform. The program also includes weekly health education videos on nutrition and sarcopenic obesity. Participants will be organized into peer support groups (5 members per group) to promote mutual encouragement and accountability in maintaining healthy behaviors.

Behavioral: Exercise with video on media platform

Printed Health Education Materials

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in the control group will receive printed health education materials weekly for 12 weeks. These materials cover the same topics as the intervention group, including healthy eating, physical activity, and prevention of sarcopenic obesity, but without the video-based guidance or peer group support.

Behavioral: Printed Educational Handout

Interventions

Exercise with video on media platform BEHAVIORAL

12-week structured video-guided exercise and peer support program

Online Video Exercise + Peer Support

Printed Educational Handout BEHAVIORAL

12-week printed health education handout program

Printed Health Education Materials

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Undergraduate students in years 1 to 4 at a medical university in central Taiwan
• Body Mass Index (BMI) between 23 and 27 or body fat percentage between 25% and 35%
• Aged 18 to 25 years
• No diagnosis of any chronic disease

You may not qualify if:

• University students with restricted limb movement who are unable to exercise according to instructions.
• Any condition that may restrict the proper use of a dynamometer (e.g., hand pain, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• China Medical University Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ya-Ling Tzeng

Taichung, 406040, Taiwan

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Interventions

Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Ya-Ling Tzeng, PhD

  China Medical University, Taiwan

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Ya-Ling Tzeng, PhD

CONTACT

+886 4-22053366; tyaling@mail.cmu.edu.tw

Mei-Chen Ho, Ms

CONTACT

+886 910228368; maggie.110310@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 4, 2025
• First Posted: May 11, 2025
• Study Start: May 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2025
• Study Completion: December 31, 2025
• Last Updated: May 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TW (1)